Cape Town - Twitter users have lashed out against Social Development Minister and ANC Women’s League President Bathabile Dlamini following her defensive comments for assault accused Higher Education deputy minister Mduduzi Manana.
The Sunday Times reported that Dlamini in an interview with the newspaper said the ANCWL would not call for Manana’s head as the incident was being used politically and that “action must be taken against other leaders first” as there were others in senior government positions “actually worse than him”.
#ANCWL and #BathabileDlamini both trended on Twitter on Sunday morning.
"We [are] busy saying hands off our women, campaigning on protecting our women, but #BathabileDlamini is busy promoting the [violence]," user @DempaNapster tweeted.
@Dipuo1026 commented: “They are worse men like Manana especially in the government; have you reported them? The ANC has failed us period #BathabileDlamini”
“#BathabileDlamini how is she the president of the ANCWL?? Smh - you can't defend someone who is against the very thing you stand for,” @zulu_samuRAI weighed in.
But #ANCWL my God...They failed women of the country they should just stop comenting on this manana case pic.twitter.com/pRaUX1nfWI
— ~SiYa (@SiyaNdv) August 13, 2017
#ANCWL are like those women who protect their men no matter what even if they are being abused by the same man.
— Mphoza the Slasher (@Mpho_Malgas7) August 13, 2017
Why do journalists still ask Minister Bathabile Dlamini serious questions? What do they expect to hear or learn?
— xhanti (@XhantiPayi) August 13, 2017
Bathabile Dlamini please withdraw your words . . . . .
— TshepoDikippa (@dikippaa) August 13, 2017
you can't protect a man who beat up women
Dlamini was on Sunday attending an umembeso and prayer ceremony at Germiston Stadium against rape and killings in Ekurhuleni.
Spokesperson Lumka Olifant said Dlamini would address journalists on the comments at the event.
#NDZ & ANCWL leadership arrive at the stadium @news24 pic.twitter.com/4FbgV1o29L
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) August 13, 2017
#NDZ a bit of entertainment while we wait, earlier ANCWL members were singing 'we are ready for Nkosazana' @News24 pic.twitter.com/3L2UaUCNLw
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) August 13, 2017
Manana is accused of assaulting a woman at Cubana nightclub in Johannesburg, for which he later apologised, labelling it a "shameful incident", which occurred as a result of "extreme provocation".
A video of the incident was widely circulated on social media, showing allegedly Manana slapping a woman, who covers her head with her hands to try and stop the blow.
Manana was on Thursday granted R5 000 bail.
